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Cribtop -> RE: Wait, I can't read Cuttlefish's new AAR? - Cribtop (J) vs CF (A) (11/8/2011 8:16:29 PM)
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Central and Southern China
In the center, our operations have been designed to convey weakness, encouraging the enemy to probe forward, deeper into the intended kessel for Operation Red Dragon. He is currently moving a 15 LCU stack (yellow) toward two isolated corps SE of Wuchang marked "I." We had local reserves at Sinyang and will now move some forward to Wuchang. They are marching in both directions to shore up the hex containing the 2 enemy LCUs while swinging additional forces along the good road between Wuchang and Changsha. The main goal here is to keep CF's principal operational reserves in Central China occupied, but the dream goal would be to isolate the former Wuchang stack and possibly even threaten Changsha just as all hell breaks loose in Southern China.
The moves marked "II" represent the 3 Divisions of 13th Army which have disengaged from the Central front as CF pulled 5 LCUs back to Kanshien, giving him a total of 12 there. Intention is for 2 Divisions, the HQ and some arty, 100% prepped for Kanshien, to pin this force, which recon shows is the only operational reserve CF has in the South.
Finally, "III" represents the main event. 4 Southern Army divisions and 2 or 3 bought out Manchuria Divisions (put into Southern Army so we can ship them to Canton and later move them to the Pacific) will land at Canton and push hard on Wuchang and the key base at Kweilin, held by only 1 LCU. We will evaluate at that time but prefer to push on toward Kweiyang if possible rather than taking the short hook to Changsha. Thus, a massive pincer move threatens the enemy's entire central position.
Ultimate desired end state is: 1) Capture of a buffer for Canton in South China and depriving the enemy of industry there; 2) flanking and capture of the Kukong/Kanshien positions; 3) Capture of the knot of bases near Changsha; 4) Capture of Kwieyang, isoalating all of Central China; and 5) Capture of the 3 bases on the road from Kweiyang to Burma, thus shutting down the Burma Road for good and opening a new Japanese LoC into Burma that is far more defensible than the LoC originating at Rangoon. These goals are listed in ascending order of difficulty.
Frankly, depending on the enemy's actions, we probably cannot achieve all the objectives listed above. However, if we even get to item 3) we will have put China into supply-less deep freeze, probably for the duration (recall that Chungking is cut off from the ChiCom armies near Yenan and all of far Western [true] China). If we can establish the alternate LoC into Burma, admittedly a longshot, it will be game-changing for the defense of Burma. Finally, after this offensive culminates we will have a large number of divisions ready to finish Luzon and then move to the Pacific.
Timing is the issue. Surely CF will figure out that some of the forces committed are from Southern Army, and respond with offensives in Burma and the Pacific. The issue will be a race between our gains in China and what we can afford to lose elsewhere.
Banzai! [&o]
[image]local://upfiles/29885/1E5C7DD88E434C96959223573534C47C.jpg[/image]
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